E-Business
Knowledge Economy Can Improve Nigeria’s Development
Knowledge sharing economy is definitely one of the potent ways to improve our current ailing economy.
All that this entails is to start engaging those that have succeeded and established themselves in various fields of endeavor and tap from their wealth of experience. We can then apply these to also achieve success in any area of life.
Knowledge-based economy serves as catalyst for individuals, governments, private and public organizations, to engage in accessing and asking relevant and important questions most pressing to them and getting answers in real-time to assist them in making better decisions that will enhance more productivity and provide the necessary guidance to achievements and success.
Why Knowledge-Based Economy?
Of note, knowledge-based economy has taken roots in countries such as Britain and Russia in Europe; America in the American continent as well as Singapore, Japan, China, India, North, and South Korea in Asia. These powerful economies of the world are distinguished when it comes to knowledge-based economy.
All of these countries have started to reap the benefits, having successfully applied this strategy. They have been able to process convergence, aimed at integrating conventional strategies and leveraging ICT to mass produce and commodify information and their cultures for sale to local and foreign consumers at a profit. These have worked for them, and we should just start kicking off from the fundamentals here in Nigeria.
According to Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, it has become clear that nations that desire to develop, modernize her economy and remain competitive, must embrace knowledge, especially scientific and technological knowledge.
Apparently, scholars of various schools of thought agree with several political leaders in recognition of learning as an important instrument necessary to unlock the doors of underdevelopment.
He goes on to posit that the need to move from resource-based economy to knowledge-based economy is needed more than ever before, considering the recent near collapse in crude oil prices that exposed the vulnerability of the Nigerian economy. This has occasioned the important and urgent need for Nigeria to diversify her economy to help her withstand any future shocks arising from the decline in commodity prices in the international market”.
Meanwhile, If you take a critical look at the concept of globalization, the concentration and conglomeration of mass producing knowledge, you will agree with me that they have taken control of the international market, using mass media such as books, radio, television, newspapers and magazines, digital materials and the Internet to promote international trade and politics.
Knowledge-Based Economy, how do we start?
Nigeria needs to use its oil proceeds to develop other sectors of the economy while also building a knowledge-based economy.
This was the submission of the former Vice- President & Treasurer of the World Bank, Arunma Oteh in an interview with CNBC.
“The reason I am very keen for us to focus on us being a knowledge economy is that I do think that our greatest asset is our people. A knowledge economy has four key elements.
The first pillar is a kind of conducive environment; your institutions, macro-economy, regulatory framework, but the second one focuses on education and skills and it is focused on people.
The third pillar focuses on innovation which is based on investing in your people and the aspiration to introduce new industries and new ways of doing business. The fourth is leveraging technology.”
Apparently, we can only be citing instances and examples from other countries because we are yet to do what other developed countries are doing.
Studies have shown that the success in the knowledge driven economies of the UK, Singapore and the US have been due in large part to the skilled workforce and human resources.
Virtually across all the sectors of their economy, all of their workers are more highly educated than any other country. In the technology industry, for instance, where everything concerning innovation is happening, the value of a company or its intangible assets resides almost entirely in the knowledge and creativity embodied in its patent and its staff. We can start to heavily invest in our workforce.
More importantly, investing in knowledge, skills and learning for all Nigerians should be a top priority.
With the challenges in the state of our educational system in Nigeria, there is the need to come up with the right policies, so that all its people can have access to high-quality education.
Although, the government had introduced the Universal Compulsory Education (UCE), much more still needs to be done.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the Nigerian educational system had been plagued by issues ranging from perpetual strikes by university lecturers, due in part to the non-regular payment or underpayment of salaries and a lack of adequate funding.
In this regards, a complete overhaul of the higher education system and an acute injection of resources is necessary to ensure that Nigerian universities can produce high quality and well-trained graduates who will be capable of competing with their counterparts around the globe.
The Role of Experts
What should be the responsibility of academics, experts, and professionals in encouraging the knowledge-based economy which we are advocating for?
The truth is that in this information era, millions of people are always seeking the right sources of information to enable them make critical and informed decisions daily. We have seen many websites in developed countries where experts identify themselves and are always ready to render their services to the public sector, private sector, and the government.
Now beaming the searchlight to Nigeria, If, as an expert, you have developed the required proficiency in any field over the years, it is imperative that you start making yourself available on different platforms. This is a collective responsibility; the experts are essential if Nigeria must adopt the knowledge-based economy.
For instance, we have the Ask an Expert App (www.askanepxert.expert) which is a new initiative, solely focused on enhancing knowledge sharing amongst Africans with a view to driving value-driven productivity starting in Nigeria where all experts in diverse fields could register and conveniently share their insights, knowledge and expertise to discerning members of the general public, the government or private institutions.
This type of platform has been able to successfully combine current successful global technology trends like on-demand and private messaging services as well as micro-blogging and expert network directory to give more value to people via real-time mobile or web live chat sessions.
Just like in other developed countries, it has made it very easy for Nigerians to connect, using technology to start knowledge sharing among communities of novices to experts, experts to experts, people to institutions and breaking geographical boundaries of accessibility nationally to help people solve everyday issues.
Conclusion
Knowledge remains the tool to unlock the impediments associated with underdevelopment. All government agencies and private citizens must seek and promote knowledge. In the same vein, experts in different fields of endeavor must make themselves readily available to support others to also succeed.
CFA is the Founder, www.CFAtech.ng & Co-producer/Presenter,Tech Trends on Channels Television
Dexude, a leading edtech platform with operations in Nigeria, has announced that it has been awarded the prestigious Business Finland TEMPO funding.
Charles Emembolu, founder of Dexude,
This significant funding injection marks a pivotal moment in Dexude’s journey towards transforming education through its AI-powered, live-first, expert-led, and community-driven platform.
The Business Finland TEMPO funding is specifically designed to support startups and SMEs aiming for international growth by building their expertise and solutions into international success stories in innovative ways.
Dexude’s commitment to innovation, coupled with its vision to enable a billion learners worldwide, aligns perfectly with the objectives of the TEMPO funding.
Commenting on this milestone achievement, Charles Emembolu, founder of Dexude, remarked, “We are incredibly honored and excited to receive the Business Finland TEMPO funding. This funding is not only a validation of Dexude’s mission to reinvent education but also a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. With this support, we are poised to accelerate our efforts in democratizing access to quality education and empowering learners across Nigeria and beyond.”
L-r; Kelvin Chikezie, co-founder of Dexude; Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); and Charles Emembolu, founder of Dexude
Kelvin Chikezie, co-founder of Dexude, added, “Securing the Business Finland TEMPO funding is a significant milestone for Dexude. It underscores our commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to revolutionize the way people learn and grow. We are grateful to Business Finland for believing in our vision, and we are excited to embark on this next chapter of Dexude’s journey.”
Dexude is on a mission to redefine education by providing learners with access to influential experts and thought leaders, live interactions, and a vibrant community-driven learning experience.
Through its platform, Dexude aims to break down barriers to learning and empower individuals to pursue their passions and unlock their full potential.
SOPHiA GENETICS, a cloud-native software company in the healthcare space and a leader in data-driven medicine, has announced that Nigeria-based Syndicate Bio has signed on to implement MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™.
Syndicate Bio is the first lab in Africa to adopt the MSK-ACCESS® assay via the SOPHiA DDM™ Platform, and the first company to make comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsy widely available to patients throughout the entire continent.
The implementation of this new technology will further existing work from SOPHiA GENETICS, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and Syndicate Bio to advance health equity on a global scale.
There are roughly 1 million new cancer patients each year in Africa and currently, comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsy testing options are not widely available.
This means that patients are forced to forego this testing or travel out of continent for these testing options. Syndicate Bio’s implementation of this new offering will provide cutting-edge liquid biopsy testing to many of these patients and will help progress the company’s goal of advancing genomics and precision medicine in an area of the world that has been historically underserved in these areas.
“Partnering with SOPHiA Genetics to bring MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ to our lab is a monumental step in accelerating the cancer treatment and research landscape across Africa, beginning in Nigeria. Next-generation sequencing technologies in oncology and liquid biopsy, which this collaboration enables, hold the potential for creating a leapfrogging opportunity in the oncology treatment and research landscape in Africa,” said Abasi Ene-Obong, PhD., Founder, Syndicate Bio.
“Through this collaboration, we aim to enable the widespread application of precision medicine in oncology across Africa, and thus contributing to the improvement of patient outcomes across the African continent.
“We believe our scientific expertise, combined with AI-enabled technologies and data-driven solutions enabled by SOPHiA GENETICS, presents a unique opportunity to fundamentally transform the journey of cancer patients through non-invasive cancer analysis, predictive genetic testing, and effective precision medicine.”
Syndicate Bio is driving genomics and precision medicine initiatives across the world’s most diverse regions through large-scale partnerships with governments, industry, and other stakeholders. Through its work, Syndicate Bio is making local impact while accelerating drug discovery and development.
By focusing on Africa, Syndicate Bio is poised to make a significant impact, starting with Nigeria, by introducing its pioneering clinical oncology offerings in an underserved region.
Through this endeavor, Syndicate Bio aims to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment for African patients. This initiative not only facilitates local next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing and liquid biopsy testing but also extends access to clinical trial participation, empowering patients and healthcare providers alike.
MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ is a decentralized version of a highly validated ctDNA test developed by MSK that involves the deep sequencing of 146 key cancer-associated genes, and will augment Syndicate Bio’s tumor profiling capabilities, allowing them to utilize a small blood sample to generate a comprehensive report in an efficient and expedited time frame.
The use of liquid biopsy is less invasive than traditional biopsy, and can help simplify patient monitoring, whilst driving the uptake of precision medicine.
The offering combines the sophisticated analytics, state-of-the-art algorithms, and decentralized, cloud-based offerings of the SOPHiA DDM™ Platform, with the scientific and clinical expertise of MSK in cancer genomics to provide a best-in-class liquid biopsy solution.
“In our mission to democratize data-driven medicine, our decentralized global network and unique set of partnerships enable us to help reach underserved populations, just as those that are served by Syndicate Bio,” said Philippe Menu, MD, PhD., Chief Medical Officer, SOPHiA GENETICS.
“By implementing this solution, Syndicate Bio will make a measurable impact throughout Africa, while also helping to generate an unparalleled and comprehensive dataset and provide invaluable insights and knowledge to shape the future of global healthcare.”
In late 2023, SOPHiA GENETICS and MSK announced they are working in partnership with AstraZeneca to bring the world-class MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ testing solution to countries and regions around the globe, including underserved areas where access to testing remains scarce.
Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has reaffirmed the importance of collaboration in advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
L-R: Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency, with Brig. Gen., Abdulrahman Idris, team lead of the Senior Executive Course 46 2024, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos during a strategic tour visit to the agency headquarters in Abuja.
Abdullahi disclosed this during a strategic engagement with participants of the 2024 Senior Executive Course 46 from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), a delegation led by Brigadier General Abdulrahman Idris.
Abdullahi emphasised that no organisation can achieve its goals in isolation, stressing the need for collaborative efforts to harness ideas, experiences and insights for national development. He highlighted the potential of collaboration between NITDA and NIPSS to leverage technology and digital innovation for driving economic growth, creating job opportunities and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
“At NITDA, we have re-imagined our social contract with Nigerians, focusing on improving service delivery and fostering the swift growth of the ICT sector,” said Abdullahi. He emphasised the agency’s commitment to serving Nigerians and outlined the strategic direction outlined in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024-2027) 2.0. The SRAP is structured around eight pillars aimed at fostering digital literacy, building a robust technology research ecosystem, strengthening policy implementation, promoting inclusive access to digital infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, forging partnerships and cultivating a vibrant organisational culture.
The brigadier-general provided insights into NIPSS’s role as Nigeria’s foremost policy think-tank, tasked with developing top-class technocrats to drive national development initiatives. He highlighted NIPSS’s contributions to policy formulation and implementation over the years, emphasising the institution’s mandate to address issues of national interest, particularly in the digital economy sector.
The collaboration between NITDA and NIPSS underscores the importance of synergistic efforts in harnessing technology and innovation for national development. By leveraging each other’s expertise and resources, both organisations aim to drive economic growth, foster job creation, and position Nigeria as a leading player in the global digital economy.
Through strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives, NITDA and NIPSS are poised to chart a path towards sustainable development, leveraging digital innovation as a catalyst for socioeconomic transformation and inclusive growth.
Dexude Secures Funding to Revolutionize Education in Nigeria, Beyond
FG Recovers N57Bn Debt from 10 MDAs
Nigerian Banks Lost over N8Bn to Internet Fraudsters in 2022- EFCC
Secure Identity Alliance: OSIA Becomes Official ITU Standard
SOPHiA GENETICS Announces Syndicate Bio as First Liquid Biopsy Customer in Africa
See Full List of Fake Loan Apps Blacklisted By CBN
AXA Mansard Empowers Female SMEs with Financial, Digital Skills
IFC Invests in New 4DX Ventures Fund to Support Tech Startups in Africa
FIRS Files Tax Evasion Charges against Binance
CBN Sacks another 50 Staff, 117 Disengaged in 20 Days
Telecom3 days agoTelcos Record N27Bn Loss from Damaged Fibre Cables
News3 days agoFG to Secure Fresh $2.25Bn World Bank Loan
Telecom3 days agoNCAIR Relaunch: Pantami, Tijani Fight for Credit
News3 days agoWema Bank Launches 5th Edition of Youth-Focused Hackathon, “Hackaholics”
Telecom3 days agoABoICT Lecture 2024 to Focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) In A Digital Economy
News2 days agoNERC Cedes Regulatory Oversight of Enugu Electricity Market to State Government Agency
News3 days agoAMCON Moves Against Firm’s MD, Directors over N42b Debt
E-Business3 days agoForex Volatility will Not End Overnight- CBN Gov